Sounding the alarm on racism terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.

"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has placed considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it added.

"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.

"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."